Engineers Ready Supersonic Decelerator

The launch tower helps link the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator test vehicle to a balloon; once the balloon floats up, the vehicle is released from…Read More »

the tower and the balloon carries it to high altitudes. The vehicle's rocket will take it to even higher altitudes, where the supersonic test begins. Less «

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Preparing for a Supersonic Test

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

A saucer-shaped test vehicle holding equipment for landing large payloads on Mars is shown in the Missile Assembly Building at the US Navy's Pacific Missile…Read More »

Range Facility in Kaua‘i, Hawaii. The vehicle, part of the Low Density Supersonic Decelerator project, will test an inflatable decelerator and a parachute at high altitudes and speeds over the Pacific Missile Range this June. Image released May 16, 2014. Less «

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Hang the Saucer

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

In this picture, NASA’s saucer-shaped experimental flight vehicle is prepared for a Range Compatibility Test at the US Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility…Read More »

in Kaua‘i, Hawaii. During the exercise, which occurred on April 23, 2014, all the radio frequencies interfaces between the vehicle, its balloon carrier and the missile range were checked. Less «

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Prepping the Parachute Deployment Device

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

An engineer works on the Parachute Deployment Device of the Low Density Supersonic Decelerator test vehicle in this image taken at the Missile Assembly…Read More »

Building at the US Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kaua‘i, Hawaii. Image released May 16th, 2014. Less «

Rocket Sled Parachute Test Ignition

A still from a video shows shows how a supersonic parachute was tested by NASA’s Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) project. A rocket-fired sled…Read More »

and pulley system pulled a one kilometer rope with parachute attached. Less «

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Parachute Test Images

Credit: NASA/JPL

A still from a video shows two angles of NASA parachute test. A supersonic parachute was tested by NASA’s Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) project.…Read More »

A rocket-fired sled and pulley system pulled a one kilometer rope with parachute attached. The right image shows the helicopter which carried the parachute aloft. The inset at top shows the winch which redirects the parachute cable to the rocket sled that increases the downward force on the parachute. Less «